Dozens become American citizens at Sox park: 'It's pretty amazing'
CHICAGO (WLS) -- For two dozen new Americans, becoming a U.S. citizen happened in a place that felt uniquely American: a baseball field.
Rate Field became more than home plate Wednesday. It became the starting line for new dreams.
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The group of new Americans said there was no better place to become a citizen than on a baseball field.
"Having been here today, it's pretty amazing," Stacey Hinchliffe said.
Hinchcliffe once envisioned the moment in a courtroom, but said standing on Rate Field made it unforgettable.
"We were originally coming here for two years. And 25 years later, we were still here," Hinchliffe said.
A temporary stay turned into a permanent dream. And for many, that dream looks different but led to the same moment.
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"I grew up with movies, with American movies. It was always great to see people serve and it's just huge respect," Ferhat Chizlak said.
Ferhat, originally from Turkey, already serves in the U.S. Army Reserves. Now, he's a citizen of the country he's defending.
"I was like, what is the first thing I need to do in order to live in this country? And that's becoming an American citizen, to be able to vote, to be able to serve, to do all that," Chizlak said.
For him, service came first and citizenship came full circle. And while his path was expedited, for others, it was decades in the making.
"We started somewhere in the process of H1 to green card in 2005," Vishal Chawla said. "We got married, had kids and then. you know, want to be in the land of dreams, so pursue the opportunity."
Born in India, Chawla is the last in his family to take the oath.
"Very great moment in life to be a point, to do it on a baseball field," Chawla said.
As a baseball coach for his son's team, he's now hoping a new dream will come true.
"I want to play major league sport when I grow up," his son Viaan Chawla said.
